GOING SOLO in Japan 10 – NAGASAKI

During our several visits to Kyushu we went to Nagasaki only once. 

We went to Nagasaki as a young doctor whom we new very well had shifted to Nagasaki University to complete his thesis. He invited my husband to give a lectureWe flew in from Kansai airport and arrived early morning. The airport was located on one of the islands. And our friends took us to the main island where the city is located.

We went to Nagasaki on a very short visit. Reaching Nagasaki from Osaka where we were located was a long and difficult journey. But we managed it. Our friend and his wife were there to receive us. They took us to our hotel. Before leaving they asked us if we would like to buy any food at super market. We decided to make do with our dry snacks.At the hotel we had a very a queer experience. When we asked if we can warm our soup for lunch, the hotel manager said the kitchen remains closed at this time. Language was a big obstacle. Didn’t want to disturb our friends So we had to make do with dry snacks.

Nagasaki is a Japanese city on the northwest coast of the island of Kyushu. It’s set on a large natural harbour, with buildings on the terraces of surrounding hills. Nagasaki city is made of several islands. Nagasaki was Japan’s one of oldest port open to foreign trade. Portuguese traders first arrived there in the mid-16th century. They introduced Roman Catholicism and guns to Japan. But after that Dutch people came. Many memories are left by the Dutch people. In the main part of the city, there is a lovely park on the top of a hill called ” OLANDA DAKE ” meaning “DUTCH SLOPE “.

Olanda Dake or Dutch Slope

Peace Park

Nagasaki’s name is associated with Hiroshima because of Atomic bombing by USA DURING SECOND WORLD WAR.

The event is memorialised at the city’s Atomic Bomb Museum and Peace Park.

Madame Butterfly is an Opera by Puccini . The opera is set in Nagasaki, Japan, in the early 20th century.

Western Restaurant

On the next day, they took us to a lovely western food restaurant. And we drove around the town. His wife took us to a lovely garden for which we climbed up the slope.

Spectacles Bridge (Meganebashi)

Night View of Nagasaki

On Monday we went to the hospital for my husband’s lecture. We almost went back as far as the airport . After the lecture we came back to hotel and next morning back to airport which is located on one of the islands.

Our next destination was Hamamatsu . Travelling back to Hamamatsu is a different story. I will describe it in the next blog